Free cheat sheet · Katakana
Katakana chart (free PDF and image)
Katakana has the same 46 basic sounds as hiragana, written with straighter strokes, plus the same dakuten, handakuten and yōon. It is used for words from other languages, such as コンビニ, バス and エレベーター, so you see it on signs, menus and notices at work. This free chart also has the extra combinations for loanwords, like ファ and ティ, and everyday katakana words.
Free PDF cheat sheet
Katakana chart with romaji and loanword sounds
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Updated Oct 31, 2026
The sheet
Katakana chart
The same content as the PDF. Use the switches to hide parts and test yourself; tap a hidden cell to reveal it.
All 46 basic katakana, dakuten, handakuten and yōon, plus loanword sounds. Romaji in Hepburn.
Red: ヂ and ヅ sound the same as ジ and ズ, and are rare.
Basic katakana
Look-alikes to drill
- シ・ツshi · tsu
- ソ・ンso · n
- ク・タ・ケku · ta · ke
- ワ・ウ・フwa · u · fu
- ス・ヌsu · nu
- チ・テchi · te
- コ・ユko · yu
- ノ・メno · me
Dakuten ゛ and handakuten ゜
Yōon: contracted sounds
Extra sounds for loanwords
| Sound | Example word |
|---|---|
| ファfa | ファイルfile |
| フィfi | フィリピンthe Philippines |
| フェfe | カフェcafé |
| フォfo | フォークfork |
| ティti | パーティーparty |
| ディdi | シーディーCD |
| ウェwe | ウェイターwaiter |
| ウォwo | ウォーキングwalking |
| シェshe | シェフchef |
| ジェje | プロジェクトproject |
| チェche | チェックcheck |
Katakana you see every day
- コンビニconvenience store
- スーパーsupermarket
- バスbus
- タクシーtaxi
- エレベーターlift, elevator
- トイレtoilet
- レシートreceipt
- アルバイトpart-time job
- コーヒーcoffee (ー makes the vowel long)
- ビールbeer (ビル without ー = building)
- ベッドbed (small ッ doubles the d)
- カップcup (small ッ doubles the p)
Reading tips
- ー makes the vowel before it long: コーヒー (kōhī), ビール (bīru).
- Small ッ doubles the next consonant: ベッド (beddo), カップ (kappu).
- シ and ン: the long stroke goes up from the bottom left. ツ and ソ: it comes down from the top.
- Not every loanword is English: アルバイト (part-time job) comes from German.
How to use it
How to use the katakana chart for the JFT-Basic
Learn it after hiragana
Each katakana has the same sound as a hiragana you know: か and カ are both ka. Learn them in the same row order.
Fix シ/ツ and ソ/ン early
These four cause the most mistakes. The direction of the long stroke tells them apart: see the tips on the sheet.
Read real signs
Katakana words in the test are everyday loanwords: shops, food, transport and work. Read the word list at the bottom of the sheet out loud.
Quiz yourself
Hide the romaji with the switch above the sheet, then take the kana quiz in katakana mode.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Hiragana chart (PDF)Every hiragana with romaji, dakuten and yōon, as a free PDF and image.
- Hiragana and katakana quizA fast reading drill for both scripts, with your weakest characters brought back first.
- JFT-Basic vocabulary listEveryday and work words by topic, with audio and flashcards.
- Free JFT-Basic PDFs and cheat sheetsPrintable kana charts, kanji and vocabulary lists, grammar sheets and a reviewer.
Step 1 · 15 minutes
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